April Hollis "The Habit of Kidwatching" Blog #1

The article “The Habit of Kidwatching” was an eye opener for me. As a teacher, I would observe my students and make anecdotal notes. By the end of the year I was much like the author.  I had a ton of data, but I was unsure what to do with it.

            From this article I learned that kidwatching is a direct, intentional, systematic observation that will help the teacher create a better classroom with the information gained. It is still difficult for me to understand exactly what to look for, but Timothy O’Keefe does a good job giving examples in the section entitled, “The Clipboard.” When going into a classroom to kidwatch I will use suggestions like the ones below:

·         List publish pieces from writer’s workshop

·         Create rubrics for mechanics

·         Record comments about what I observe and hear

Next, O’Keefe gives us insight on his philosophy on coaching. After reading that section of the article I realized what he refers to as coaching is what I would do during my conferencing time. I believe having that one on one time is crucial, even though finding the time might be difficult.   I found that trying to record each miscue was hard, but I think like with anything else practicing will make me better. 

Eventually, I will find what way works best for me. This will include a system of how to collect the data as well as how to use that data. In the end, I want to make sure I am doing what is best for children so taking that risk and making a commitment will ultimately benefit my students.